The difference and development of lead-acid batteries and lithium batteries for electric forklifts

　　Forklift is an indispensable tool in the logistics industry, and its power has also undergone the development process from chemical fuel to chemical electricity, among which lead-acid batteries are the first choice for forklift power in recent decades. However, with the development of the times and the requirements of environmental protection, lithium batteries have gradually eroded the share of lead-acid batteries in electric forklifts. As a senior customized lithium battery manufacturer, SES Power has long used lithium iron phosphate batteries that can perfectly replace lead-acid batteries to customize electric forklift batteries. At the same time, we have launched a matching BMS with intelligent communication and support for fast charging. But it is undeniable that lead-acid batteries still dominate the electric forklift industry. So, what is the difference between lead-acid batteries and lithium batteries in electric forklifts, the following is an explanation for you by a senior engineer from SES Power.

　　A: Background of the electric forklift industry

　　The global stock of electric forklifts is estimated to be about 30 million units. In this industrial vehicle segment, traditional lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries, hydrogen energy batteries, and the recent emergence of new iron-nickel batteries are changing the form of electric forklift batteries. Push towards diversification.

　　According to industry data, the growth rate of lithium batteries is growing at a rate of more than 100%, and most of them are in small pallet trucks. The growth rate of lead-acid batteries is mainly concentrated in medium-sized forklifts, and the growth rate is more than 15%.

　　At present, the general view in the entire market is that lithium batteries will become the main battery form for future industrial vehicles, because the actual use cost of lithium batteries is already lower than that of traditional lead-acid batteries, which has attracted the attention of many users. SES Power needs to explain on this point that lithium iron phosphate batteries of the same specification are still about three times the price of lead-acid batteries, but considering the tariffs caused by environmental protection requirements, the life of lithium iron phosphate batteries is longer than that of lead-acid batteries. More than 5 times, the recycling value of lead-acid batteries, etc., the annual cost of using lithium batteries for electric forklifts is actually lower than that of lead-acid batteries.

　　Due to the safety and quality stability of lithium-ion batteries, fluctuations in the lithium battery market, and differences in the mainstream judgment of lithium batteries and hydrogen energy in the entire energy market, there are still some uncertainties for the application of lithium batteries in electric forklifts.

　　B: The future and technical defects of lithium batteries:

　　Advantages: long enough cycle life, lithium iron phosphate battery life of up to 4000 weeks, support for fast charging, small size, clean and no leakage, can expand RS485, CAN, WLAN and other protocols to achieve online communication and remote monitoring.

　　Disadvantages: Lithium batteries have certain safety hazards, the initial price is high, and a matching lithium battery fast charger is required. Light weight, some electric forklift models require suitable counterweights.

　　C: The future and technical defects of lead-acid batteries:

　　Advantages: stable quality, mature technology, predictable risks, stable supply of raw materials, high residual value of recycled materials and easy handling

　　Disadvantages: no fast charging, no intelligent monitoring, need for backup batteries, heavy metal pollution, short service life, cumbersome maintenance.

　　D: The meaning of environmental protection:

　　The new energy road of the automobile industry is to replace chemical fuels with chemical batteries to achieve the goal of environmental protection. Therefore, the emphasis is on lithium-ion batteries with high energy density, and the electrification of forklifts has been a long-term thing for nearly a hundred years. The electrification process, in the early days, was more about the conversion of chemical fuels to lead-acid batteries. Because this process is long enough, it also leads to a certain inertia in the industry. For a long time, lead-acid batteries should still be the main battery type of forklift trucks, but lead-acid batteries will pollute the environment, and now we have more and more stringent requirements for environmental protection, some countries even plan to completely ban lead-acid batteries, which is a clear signal.

　　E: The technology of the charger:

　　The technology of lead-acid batteries has existed for a hundred years, and it is mature in terms of usage scenarios and technologies, and it is a product with a very stable industrial chain. A closed loop is formed from the environmental protection control at the manufacturing end and the link of scrap recycling and reuse. Due to the development of digitalization and intelligence, the charging technology applied to lead-acid batteries has been improved by new technologies.

　　However, because lead-acid batteries cannot provide more detailed parameters in nature, the development direction of lead-acid chargers is mainly: high frequency, adjustment of charging parameters, automatic sulfur removal or no sulfurization.

　　Lithium battery charger can do: can communicate with the communication protocol of pack's BMS, realize visual interface, precision, wireless communication, unmanned intelligent management, etc.

　　SES Power believes that lithium batteries, especially lithium iron phosphate batteries, will definitely occupy a dominant position in the future wave of electric forklift development, and lead-acid batteries will gradually withdraw from this industry, just as lithium batteries gradually replaced nickel-metal hydride batteries in mobile phones 20 years ago. the same position as above.